Top 5 SoCal Pantry Essentials To Pretend It's Really Fall

Those lazy burger grilling summer days may officially be over, but in L.A., that notorious September sun and surf is still going strong. And so if you're not quite ready to retire those local burger condiments for cassoulet beans, these Top Five SoCal Pantry Essentials To Pretend It's Really Fall will help ease you into that pseudo-fall mentality.

Gary's Stall At The South Pasadena Farmers Market

A. Scattergood

5. A Full Knife Block Tune-Up From Gary's Knife Sharpening: We've long been fans of Gary Silverstein's ability to keep our chef's knife perfectly tuned, but this time of year there is something particularly satisfying about getting those long-neglected knives sharpened. And if you've never had your mandolin blade sharpened, we highly recommend it, as Silverstein will change the way you look at those weeknight potato gratin recipes in five minutes flat. We like to think of our annual fall knife sharpening pilgrimage as the Southern California culinary equivalent of pulling out those winter sweaters -- only without a cashmere price tag. A recent full-drawer tune-up set us back less than $40. Prices are by the inch at several local farmers markets; Silverstein also does house calls.

The Deli Staple

flickr user amandablogTO

4. Bagel Chips From Your Neighborhood Deli: Remember when bagel chips were a back-to-school lunchbox staple? Yeah, those commercial versions don't always bring back the fondest memories. But chances are your local deli is still making them. Several delis in L.A. turn their leftover bagels into snacks (you'll often find a stack of them by the cash register). Of course, in typical American fashion we've come to expect an infinite variety of bagel chip flavors, from plain, garlic, herb, and every spice in between. "Go with the seasoned," recommends Troy Fromin of Fromin's Deli in Santa Monica, which has been making bagel chips for thirty years. Why? "Because they're seasoned," he says. Logical enough for us. Bagel Chips, $3.95 at Fromin's Deli in Santa Monica.